The McCain Foundation has donated $200,000 to Assiniboine College to support the expansion of its greenhouse facilities. This generous contribution follows a commitment of $100,000 to the college's Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture earlier this year.
"The McCain Foundation is proud to support initiatives that recognize the environment, and promote sustainable practices," said Ann Evans, Chairperson of The McCain Foundation. "With this $200,000 donation, we are investing in hands-on learning experiences and supporting agriculture programming at Assiniboine, helping to build a strong, sustainable future for agriculture in Manitoba and beyond."
The greenhouse expansion, located at the college's North Hill campus, will connect existing spaces such as the grow plots, orchard, and weed identification garden to provide students with a comprehensive environment for hands-on learning. Through the expansion of the greenhouse, students will gain access to state-of-the-art facilities, spaces and equipment that will allow faculty and students to expand their work in addressing industry demands and tackling challenges at both local and global levels.
"As part of the college's Applied Research Strategy, the Russ Edwards School of Agriculture & Environment works to address sector challenges and respond to industry needs," said Dr. Nicole Gaudette, Dean of the Edwards School at Assiniboine. "Collaboration with industry partners, like The McCain Foundation, is vital for our students' success. This support will not only support the expansion of our greenhouse facilities, but also enable students to be a part of industry-driven projects that equip them with the skills needed for green-collar jobs to contribute to a low-emissions economy. We extend our thanks once again to The McCain Foundation for their recognition and support."
Assiniboine continues to advance the future of agriculture through initiatives like the greenhouse expansion, an integral complement to the future Prairie Innovation Centre that will expand infrastructure further, and introduce new programs that drive growth, innovation, and sustainability within the agriculture sector.
The Prairie Innovation Centre will serve as the central hub for agricultural education, applied research and innovation at Assiniboine, enabling enhanced opportunities to strengthen industry partnerships.
